Sunday, December 4, 2011

The End Is Nigh

Dundee

This month marks the half way point for our time in Dundee, scheduled to end June 2013. Although I can't be certain, the odds are very good we will not be sticking around here once Mike graduates in May that year. Thus, the end of this month means just 1.5 years left to get the most out of our Dundee adventure.

Once we leave Dundee, it's very possible we'll never visit this part of the world again. Although we plan to stay in the UK for another couple of years, most likely in London, we probably won't be using any of that time to visit Scotland, not with both England and Wales to entertain us, along with the rest of the world. Thus, with just 18 months left in Scotland, we need to start strategizing how we spend our time so we get the most out of this opportunity.

In addition to all the places we have yet to see, we still hope to 'bag a Munro' and witness some Highland Games. We'd like to go to a ceilidh, spend more time at the Edinburgh festivals in August, and experience the North Sea (e.g. kayak, SUP, etc.). Our monthly rambles allow us the opportunity to see the countryside, and provide us with some guidance as to what and where, so we plan to continue those. But, we also hope to manage a couple staycations to tackle those things on our list which will take more than just an afternoon.

Seaton Cliffs

In addition to looking ahead, it's good to look back and review what we've accomplished in our first 18 months in Scotland. Our rambles have really provided us with the best memories of our temporary home; the Fife Coastal Path and the Seaton Cliffs were both beautiful walks and Pitlochry and Crieff were both lovely towns. Glamis Castle is still one of our favourite castles and both Edinburgh and Glasgow are great cities.

As this is our first step on a long journey, I'm really happy with how we've structured it. Living slightly outside ones comfort zone can be difficult and trying at times but also rewarding. Though we long for the days of comfortable couches and close friends, the new experiences and awkward interactions on a regular basis are their own reward.